Poland students make ‘green’ ornaments

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Bobby Cole (left) and Celina Dennis worked together to fold Christmas tree cut-outs into ornaments at teh Dec. 3 visit from Peg Flynn of the Green Team.

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Peg Flynn of the Mahoning Country Green Team explained how to put together the Christmas tree ornament to fourth-grade students at North Elementary School Dec. 3.

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.There were five different Christmas ornament projects that were made Dec. 3 at North Elementary School - one for each grade. All of these ornaments were made out of recycled goods.

Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Justin Allsopp glued the sides of his Christmas tree cut-outs together to make ornaments Dec. 3. The cut-outs were made from recylced Christmas cards.

Poland North Elementary School students spent Dec. 3 making ornaments with Peg Flynn of the Mahoning County Green Team.

In keeping with the goals of the Green Team, all ornaments were made out of recycled goods, such as old cereal boxes, Christmas cards, wrapping paper, and puzzle pieces. Each grade made different types of ornaments. One grade made reindeer faces out of cereal boxes and paint, while another made three-sided Christmas trees out of old Christmas cards.

“I have a lot of help putting this together,” said Flynn. “The day reporters from the Sheriff’s department came to help out and cut trees out of cards and I have had volunteers from YSU sorting puzzle pieces all month.”

After the ornaments were finished, Flynn asked students to remind their parents to recycle this holiday season.

“Did you know that 25 percent of all yearly trash is created at Christmas? We are really aiming to reduce this year, so please recycle all your cards, save bows for next year, and put all non-foil wrapping paper in with recycling,” she told the group.

This year, the Green Team will also be collecting all live Christmas trees. They will be gathered and put into Lake Milton for the fish to live in. For more information, visit www.mahoningcountyoh.gov.